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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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 Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 3:39 pm Post subject: Going back to Japan |
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Right so I'm starting to miss Japan and am seriously considering going back.
I'm now armed with teaching credentials and a Masters degree in AL but getting university jobs from abroad is a pretty tall order unless you're a well published professor.
So then, what's it to be? Back to an Eikaiwa seems the easiest option. Instant sponsorship and housing. But could I bear it? Probably, if it's a means to an end. And I secretly had great fun working at my last one.
Unfotunately I think I rather 'burnt my bridges' at my last eikaiwa. There was a 'mix up' with my final payment and I sent a rather blunt letter to the boss, who is rather unforgiving.
Do you reckon they keep long term files on former employees? If they don't then I might reapply there as my re-hire salary would be higher.
Anyone got any experiences of leaving and returning? Anecdotal and practical  |
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seanmcginty
Joined: 27 Sep 2005
Posts: 203
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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I suppose it depends. I did a year with GEOS, hated it and more or less burned my bridges there. About a month after I came back to Canada I had an intrview with AEON, got hired, and was back in Japan 3 months later.
So even if you've pissed off people at one Eikaiwa there are lots of others you can work for.
I don't know how much you'd want to though. I spent 5 years doing the Eikaiwa thing and its been about 2 years since I left Japan. I miss Japan a lot and I'd like to go back but I know there is no way I would ever work in an Eikaiwa again. It would just be way too depressing. Like you I've been upgrading my credentials since I came back and it would just be such a waste to go back to doing the same thing.
Of course, if its just a means to an end and you'd have some long-term plan to get out of it....then it might be OK. Still, I'm guessing your purpose in getting an MA and teaching credentials was to move up in the world so I don't know. Good luck! |
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-3E-
Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 66
Location: Where ever I want to be
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm considering going to japan one day...... I'm not sure i'd ever leave though.... |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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| seanmcginty wrote: |
| it would just be such a waste to go back to doing the same thing. |
Well what better way back into employment in Japan from abroad is there?
There are plenty of university/international school jobs to apply for but it's impractical unless you're in the country already. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Well what better way back into employment in Japan from abroad is there? |
JET? Depends on how long you were here and how long it's been. According to Cthulhu, JET is looking more and more at people with actual teaching experience and credentials. Airfare paid, higher salary than eikaiwa. Sometimes rent free.
Plus, you're in the public school system, priming you for what you'd face in university. |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
According to Cthulhu, JET is looking more and more at people with actual teaching experience and credentials. Airfare paid, higher salary than eikaiwa. Sometimes rent free.
Plus, you're in the public school system, priming you for what you'd face in university. |
Hmmm, JET might be an idea (although I'm a bit old for that, 34). Trouble is if a good job came my way I would feel bad about possibly leaving a rural kids school in the doo-doo.
I already have experience in Japanese high schools and several years experience of colleges and universities in the UK, so experience isn't really an issue. |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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Just took a look at the JET website and everything sounded fine up until point 10:
"Must not have lived in Japan for three or more years in total since 1999."
I was there for 3 years 1 month from 2002. |
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seanmcginty
Joined: 27 Sep 2005
Posts: 203
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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| womblingfree wrote: |
| seanmcginty wrote: |
| it would just be such a waste to go back to doing the same thing. |
Well what better way back into employment in Japan from abroad is there?
There are plenty of university/international school jobs to apply for but it's impractical unless you're in the country already. |
Yeah, I see your point. I'm on a different career path now, but if you are looking to teaching as a career you might be stuck with the big eikaiwa route as your gateway to Japan.
For me though it would be way too depressing. It was such a relief when I quit working for big eikaiwa. I spent 3 years working for GEOS and AEON combined. My last two years in Japan I taught on my own out of an apartment with my wife and once I started doing that I knew there was no way I could go back to all the crap. |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:24 am Post subject: |
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Does anyone know first hand if the large eikaiwa actually keep long term records of their teachers?
I remember having an 'assessment' once and got back child-like feedback from a manager. You know the stuff, everything was assessed as 'great!'
Anyway a few of us actually found our real assessments in a drawer, very detailed and all written in Japanese. It was really funny to actually see how the place is run compared to what you're shown.
We photo-copied them, think I've still got mine somewhere.
Some eikaiwa head offices are a hot-bed of paranoia and back-stabbing!
Personally I found it all very amusing  |
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jademonkey
Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:30 am Post subject: |
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| womblingfree wrote: |
Does anyone know first hand if the large eikaiwa actually keep long term records of their teachers?
I remember having an 'assessment' once and got back child-like feedback from a manager. You know the stuff, everything was assessed as 'great!'
Anyway a few of us actually found our real assessments in a drawer, very detailed and all written in Japanese. It was really funny to actually see how the place is run compared to what you're shown.
We photo-copied them, think I've still got mine somewhere.
Some eikaiwa head offices are a hot-bed of paranoia and back-stabbing!
Personally I found it all very amusing |
I'd say no. One of the advantages of working for a faceless megacompany is that you're a number, not a person. You may very well be rehired with the same company. Having said that, there are plenty of decent small eikaiwa around too, so you don't need to go for the big ones.
Although once at Nova I was doing some paperwork and found the 'sick call files' which included excuses (eg, cold) and belieavability ratings (!) ranging from 1-10. I found mine, and was happy to report that my sick calls were realistic. |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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| womblingfree wrote: |
Just took a look at the JET website and everything sounded fine up until point 10:
"Must not have lived in Japan for three or more years in total since 1999."
I was there for 3 years 1 month from 2002. |
My math is sooo bad!
If I went to Japan in July 2002 and came back September 2005 then by the time I'd applied and gone back I would have spent less than 3 years there in the last 5.
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-3E-
Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 66
Location: Where ever I want to be
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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Is it pretty easy to extend a contract after getting on after going on holiday when your contract finishes and you want to go back to Japan?
Last edited by -3E- on Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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| -3E- wrote: |
| Is it pretty easy to extend a contract after getting on? |
What's this got to do with going back to Japan? 
Anyway in answer to your question, you'll probably be asked to renew at least once unless you are a TOTAL disaster.
Everyone wants to go on holiday before starting their new contract, they don't let you. You'd have to go back as a re-hire, less money and another dose of 'training'.
Last edited by womblingfree on Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:38 am Post subject: |
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| Are any of the people you worked with still there? My experience was that connections are the way to go for positions beyond eikaiwa. |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:18 am Post subject: |
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| Vince wrote: |
| Are any of the people you worked with still there? My experience was that connections are the way to go for positions beyond eikaiwa. |
Yes I've got a few good contacts. I don't think I'd have a problem getting some part-time hours at a university.
Sponsorship and full-time employment is harder to get unless the employer has actually met you though.
I think it might be fun to go through the eikaiwa experience again for a few months while I'm job hunting. Like one of those dreams when you're back at high school |
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